Selçuk. Ephesus.
Selçuk. Ephesus.
COASTLINE OF ASIA MINOR AND EASTERN THRACE
303
555. Ephesus, Saint John Theologos (Έφεσος, Άγιος Ιωάννης ο Θεολόγος)
ologos; 40 m long complex with an arched space; and, finally,
the “Byzantine palace” to the N and the “Byzantine refectory”
above the theatre. There are also splendid examples of secu-
lar architecture from the 5th-6th c.: fountains in good condi-
tion; building phases of the theatre dating to Late Antiquity,
and of the temple of Hadrian, of the lower agora; the baths of
Varius (baths of Scholastica), and other public facilities, such
as luxurious Arcadian Street, completed in 395-408, which led
from the theatre to the harbour and featured a four-columned
monument of the 6th c. by Frontinus; completion of the com-
mercial Curetes Street with the Gate of Hercules; inscriptions
of Roman Emperors Valens, Valentinian and Gratian from the
years 371 and 372 on the socle of a monument opposite the
temple of Hadrian.
Ayasoluk hill, where the church of Saint John Theologos is
located, and its tower were fortified during the Arab raids of
the 8th-9th c., with building material taken from earlier monu-
ments. The construction of the impressive citadel on top of the
hill was started by the Byzantines and completed by the Selju-
qs. A unique complex of the Early Christian period is the cav-
ernous Cemetery of the Seven Sleepers, which had already
been used as a burial place from the late 4th c. In the 5th c.
it was associated with the tradition of the Seven Youths who,
during the persecutions by Roman Emperor Decius (r. 249-
251), found shelter in a cave where they fell asleep and awoke
in the 23rd year of the reign of Eastern Roman Emperor Theo-
dosius II (r. 408-450), i.e. in 430-1. As a result the cave was
occupied, mainly in the 5th-6th c., by numerous graves, funer-
ary monuments, a large mausoleum and at least one church.
Outside the city of Ephesus stands a church of the 13th c.,
possibly built on ancient walls, and degraded due to restora-
tion. Since the 19th c., this building has been associated with
